Our top picks of timely offers from our partners

More details
UFB Secure Savings
Learn More
Terms Apply
Up to 5.25% APY on one of our top picks for best savings accounts plus, no monthly fee
Accredited Debt Relief
Learn More
Terms Apply
Accredited Debt Relief helps consumers with over $30,000 of debt
LendingClub High-Yield Savings
Learn More
Terms Apply
Our top pick for best savings accounts for its strong APY and an ATM card with no ATM fees
Choice Home Warranty
Learn More
Terms Apply
Protects 25+ systems & appliances. Free quote + $50 off + 1 month free
Freedom Debt Relief
Learn More
Terms Apply
Freedom Debt Relief can help clients get started without fees up front
Select independently determines what we cover and recommend. We earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links. This commission may impact how and where certain products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Read more about Select on CNBC and on NBC News, and click here to read our full advertiser disclosure.
Credit Cards

Bank of America Travel Rewards review: Earn unlimited points for travel, no matter where you shop

Select breaks down the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for your review.

Share
Getty Images

The BankAmericard® credit card is not currently available on Select. Please visit our list of best balance transfer cards for alternative options. Information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

Most credit cards are known for offering either travel rewards, a 0% interest period or a large welcome bonus, but the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers cardholders all three perks. 

With no annual fee, you can maximize the number of points you earn to use on travel purchases without worrying about whether you spend enough to justify the high cost that come with some travel rewards cards. You can earn unlimited 1.5X points for every $1 you spend on all your purchases. You can use your points toward eligible travel expenses and, just like with many comparable travel credit cards, your points never expire.

Below, Select breaks down the rewards, benefits and fees associated with the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card to help you decide if it's the right card for you.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card review

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

  • Rewards

    Unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all eligible purchases

  • Welcome bonus

    25,000 online bonus points after you spend at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening, which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward qualifying travel purchases

  • Annual fee

    $0

  • Intro APR

    Introductory 0% APR for your first 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening.

  • Regular APR

    18.24% - 28.24% variable

  • Balance transfer fee

    3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%

  • Foreign transaction fee

    None

  • Credit needed

    Good/Excellent

Terms apply.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card rewards

No matter whether you use your credit card at the supermarket, the pump or to book a flight, you'll earn 1.5X points for every $1 you spend on eligible purchases.

Right now, new cardholders can also take advantage of a generous welcome offer: Earn 25,000 bonus points after making $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. This can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.

You can start redeeming your rewards once you've earned 2,500 (for travel) or 3,125 for gift cards. The value of your points vary depending on how you use them. You get the best rate (1 point = $0.001) if you use your Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card to book your travel and then apply your rewards as a statement credit to essentially reimburse yourself for your travel costs.

This method of travel rewards reimbursement is similar to redeem points for future travel, available on cards like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (See rates and fees) and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (See rates and fees)

You can also redeem your points for a cash reward either in the form of a check or electronic deposit into a Bank of America checking or savings account or for credit to an eligible cash management account with Merrill. Each point redeemed for cash is worth $0.006 (2,500 points = $15). The redemption value for gift cards varies, so you'll want to do your research before you cash in your points that way.

Additional benefits

Bank of America Travel Rewards cardholders can benefit from the Museums on Us® program. During the first full weekend every month, you can gain one free general admission to participating museums when you present your qualifying Bank of America credit card and photo ID. (This perk excludes special exhibitions, ticketed shows and fundraising events.)

Fees

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is a no annual fee travel rewards card. There are also no foreign transaction fees, giving you freedom to take this card with you on your next overseas vacation

The card also offers new customers a 0% interest period on purchases for the first 18 billing cycles (after, 16.99% - 26.99% variable APR). Note that this promotional financing period applies to new purchases only. Balance transfers will accrue interest at the standard rate, plus incur a 3% balance transfer fee.

If you are looking for a balance transfer card to pay down high interest debt on other accounts, you could consider the BankAmericard® credit card, which offers 0% interest for the first 21 billing cycles (after, 15.49% to 25.49% variable APR). You could also look for a balance transfer credit card with no balance transfer fee to help you get on the road to being debt-free

Bottom line

Many great travel rewards cards come at the price of $95 or more, whereas the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card has no annual fee, plus 0% APR on new purchases for the first 18 billing cycles (after, 16.99% - 26.99% variable APR). Cardholders earn unlimited 1.5X points per every $1 spent on eligible purchases, with no blackout dates, limits or expiration. These points can be redeemed in the form of flexible travel credits that allow you to cover a wide range of travel purchases.

Of course, you may be able to get more value from a travel card such as the American Express® Green Card — which rewards travel with 3X points on transit, along with 3X points on restaurants, but with a $150 annual fee (see rates and fees).

There's also the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card that delivers 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3X points on dining and 2X points on all other travel purchases, 1X on all other purchases, and it has a $95 annual fee.

Information about the BankAmericard® credit card, and Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Green Card, click here.

Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
Chime
Learn More
Terms Apply
Chime offers online-only accounts that minimize fees plus, get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposits
Find the right savings account for you
Learn More
Terms Apply
Help your money grow by finding the savings account that offers the best rates and features for you